Stacking aids



June 21, 1955 P. ASHLEY 2,711,255

STACKING Arms I Filed Sept. 16. 1952 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 PAUL ASHLEY I INVENTOR 7/6. '9. HU8NER, 'BEEHLER,

won/ea a HERZ/G ,4 TTORNEKY STACKING AIDS Paul Ashley, Fresno, Calif., assignor to Fresno Consumers Ice Company, Fresno, Calif.

The present invention relates to stacking aids and more particularly to an assembly guide for boxes and the like.

Preliminary to the shipment of fresh fruits and vegetables to market and preliminary to the storage of such produce, it is the usual practice to pack the produce into substantially rectangular boxes which are lidded to confine and to protect the contents. The boxes generally employ impervious ends but provide sides having laterally disposed ventilation openings. The boxes are stacked and the stacks arranged in end to end abutting relation in tiers and side to side spaced relation in rows. The spacing of the sides of the boxes of adjacent tiers defines air passages therebetween useful for ventilation, refrigeration, and fumigating purposes.

In view of the recurrent handling of suchboxes, it has been found advantageous to assemble boxes in the described arrangement on pallets which can be handled by lift trucks and transported from place to place quickly and economically while maintaining the described relationship of the boxes.

Inasmuch as marketing requirements for fresh produce demand expeditious handling, it has been found that the arranging of the boxes in the stacks, tiers, and rows described, is not infrequently hastily and carelessly performed with resultant difficulties in handling pallet borne packs thereof and the impairing of the ventilation characteristics desired as well as the inhibiting of refrigeration and/ or fumigation efiiciency.

An object of the present invention is to provide an assembly guide conducive to the speedy and precisely accurate stacking of boxes and the like in spaced tiers.

Another object is to provide an assembly guide of the character described which is movable between predetermined guiding and retracted positions, the retracted position being sufliciently free of the working area to avoid interference with the subsequent handling of boxes assembled by aid of the guide.

Another object is to provide a movable assembly guide for boxes and the like making provision for the dependable releasable detention of the guide in operable position.

Another object is to provide a device of the character and for the purposes set forth that is economical to produce, durable in structure, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent in the subsequent description in the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an assembly guide embodying the principles of the present invention including a fragmentarily represented supporting platform.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the assembly guide located in a suitable environment which is fragmentarily sectionally represented. Fig. 2 also shows a conventional lift truck in dashed lines for purposes of demonstrating advantages of the subject invention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the support platform having the assembly guide of the present invention mounted thereon and showing thereagainst a pack of assembled boxes.

nited Statesv Patent O 23 is in guiding position.

2,711,255 Patented June 21, 1955 The platform is preferably elevated above a road bed '12, or driveway, over which lift trucks 13 and the like can be driven. The platform has a side edge 14 disposed toward the driveway.

A fence 16 is rigidly mounted on the platform 11 in an erect position in a plane substantially right angularly related to the side edge 14 of the platform. The fence conveniently consists of a pair of upright substantially parallel posts 17 having lower ends aflixed to the platform and upper ends connected to a roof structure 19 of the warehouse. When the platforms 11 are formedof concrete, it is convenient to imbed the lower 'endofthe innermost post 17 in the concrete. The side edges 14 of such platforms are usually reinforced by angle iron members to which a mounting plate 18 may conveniently be bolted and to which the lower end of the outermost post is weldably secured. The posts are weldably interconnected by braces 20. A pair of vertically spaced eyelets 22 are mounted on the fence in vertical alignment.

A substantially rectangular frame 23 is pivotally mounted on the fence for movement about a vertical axis by a pair of pintles 24 engaged in the eyelets 22. The frame is movable between a guiding position, shown in all of the figures, and a retracted position shown in dashed line in Fig. 3. v v

The frame consists of an upright member 26 in parallel adjacent relation to the fence 16 which mounts the pintles 24. A plurality of substantially horizontal frame arms 27are extended from the upright member in a common vertical plane. The extended ends of the frame arms are interconnected by a second upright member 28. It will be obesrved that the upright members 26 and 28 and the frame arms 27 lie in a common plane which is substantially vertically aligned with the side edge of the platform 14 when the frame is in guiding position. An auxiliary fence 29 is mounted on the second upright member 28 in a position substantially parallel to the fence 16 when the frame is in guiding position. The auxiliary frame conveniently includes a pair of braces 30 mounted on the second upright member 23 in substantially right angular relation to the plane of the frame arms 27 and a post 31 interconnecting the braces 30 in substantially parallel relation to said second upright member 28.

In order releasably to hold the frame 23 in guiding position, a retractable latch 33 is mounted on the second upright member 28 adjacent to the platform. The latch includes a bolt 34 which is vertically movable. A bore is formed in the side edge 14 of the platform in such a position that the frame is held in guiding position when the bolt 34 is engaged therewith.

A plurality of elongated stop members 36 are welded or otherwise secured to theframe arms 27 in substantially erect position. iently take the form of strap iron, rods, tubes, or other rigid material against which boxes may be located. The stop members are secured to the frame arms at the sides thereof disposed toward the platform when the frame guides 37 are mounted in erect positions in substantially equally spaced relation between the fence 16 and the auxiliary fence 29 on the side of the frame disposed toward the platform when in guiding position. The aligning guides each include a plurality of longitudinally aligned segments with the corresponding segments of the a stack aligning guides being correspondingly spaced to The stop members may conven- A plurality of stack aligning.

define car-strip receiving openings thei'ebetween. The segments conveniently take the form of sections of pipe, steel tubing, or the like compressed or pinched to provide substantially wedge-shaped side edges 38 extended from the frame over the platform beyond the stop members 36.

,. Operation The operation and utility of the device of the present invention are believed to be clearly apparent arid are briefly summarized at this point. The frame 23 is swung into guiding position and latched by inserting the bolt 34 ihto the recess at the side edge of the platform. A pallet 40, of any suitable form, is tested on the platform 11 between the fence 16 and the auxiliary fence 29 adjacent to the frame 23, Lidded boxes 41 ofpacked produce are stacked endwardly against the frame. The boxes at the side of the pallet are guided into vertically stacked alignment by positioning the sides of such boxes against'the fence 16, or auxiliary fence 29, 'with the ends of the boxes against the stop members 36 and an opposite side of the box wedged into position by engagemerit with the side edges 38 of adjacent aligninggu'ides 37. Intermediate boxes are conveniently located in vertically stacked alignment by positioning the ends thereof against the stop members 36 with opposite sides of the boxes adjacent to said members guided into position by the side edges 38 of the stack aligning guides 37.

After approximately three layers of boxes have been stacked in a row adjacent to the frame 23, a pair of car strips 43 are preferably nailed transversely of the boxes so as to interconnect the adjacent stacks in the spaced relation determined by the fence 16, aligning guides 37, arid auxiliary fence 29. Additional layers of boxes are superimposed on the car strips and additional car strips nailed into place where desired. The spacing of the segments of the aligning guides, accommodates the car strips closely adjacent to the frame for convenience in nailing to the ends of the boxes. When the boxes are stacked to a desired height, a successive row of boxes is loaded onto the pallet 40 by aligning corresponding stacks in the second row with stacks accurately positioned by the assembly guide in the first row. Normally forty-eight boxes are loaded on each pallet with eight boxes in each stack, the stacks in side to side spaced relation longitudinally of the pallet and in end to end abutting relation in tiers transversely of the pallet.

Because of the fence 16, auxiliary fence 29, stop members 36, and stack aligning guides 37, the boxes can be speedily and conveniently positioned in the precise arrangement desired by even inexperienced help.

For convenient access to the pallet, the bolt 34 of the latch 33 is withdrawn from the platform 11 and the frame pivoted outwardly from the platform and into the retracted position indicated by dashed line in Fig. 3. A lift truck 45 or other convenientjcarrying means can thus approach the pallet 49 from the side thereof opposite that from which the boxes are loaded leaving working area on the platform free for the delivery of additional boxes. When a lift truck is utilized, its lifting forks 46 are extended beneath the platen and the platen and boxes borne thereby elevated for conveyance from the platform.

While the asscmoiing guide of the present invention has been described as mounted at the side edge of the platform, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to such positioning. Such side edge mounting is generally preferred however, for convenience in access.

The guide is economical to construct, durable, conducive to the expeditious assembly of boxes in predeter mined spaced relation in packs so as to have desired ventilation, refrigeration and fumigation characteristics. Unskilled labor, even if relatively careless, succeeds in forming packs as precise in their arrangement and more speedily than even experienced labor accomplished before. The vertical alignment of the boxes in their stacks is assisted" and uniremt, easily handled packs attained.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment; it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.-

Having describedmy invention what I claim as new and i a desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An assembly guide for use in the stacking of boxes on a'lift truck pallet and including means removably supporting the pallet in a predetermined horizontal position comprising a fence mounted on the support means in an erect position adjacent to the pallet and at a corner therej of, a frame mounted on the fence for adjustable move ment between a position adjacent to the pallet at aside thereof contiguous with the corner at which the fence, is mounted and a position retracted therefrom, means for releasably holding the frame in its position adjacent to the pallet, said frame including, an auxiliaryfence extended in substantially parallel relation to the fence and opposite to the pallet therefrom when the frame is positidned adjacent to the pallet, and substantially vertical stack aligningguide means in substantially equal horizontally spaced relation between the fence and the'aux iliary fence and disposed toward the pallet when the fram'eis positioned'adjacent thereto.

2. An assembly guide for use in stacking boxes in. spaced relation to each other comprising a platform, a

fence rigidly mounted'on the platform in a substantially vertical ositiori, a frame pivotally mounted on the fence for movement about a substantially vertical axis, a substantially vertical auxiliary'fence portion rigidly mounted V on the frame and positionable in substantially parallel relation to the fence by pivotal movement of the frame,

and a plurality of substantially vertically positioned horizontally spaced stack aligning guides mounted on the frame intermediate the fence and the auxiliary fence and arranged in a plane substantially normal to the auxiliary fence and outwardly extended from the frame between the fence and the auxiliary fence, and means for releasably retaining the frame in'a position with the auxiliary fence in substantially parallel relation to the fence} 3. An assembly guide for use in stacking boxes in spaced relation to each other comprising a substantially horizontal support member having a side edge; a post member mounted on the support member in a substantially erect position adjacent to the side edge thereof; an

erect frame pivotally mountedon the post member for movement between a guiding position in substantially yeri tical alignment with the side edge of the support member" and a retracted position pivoted outwardly therefrom, said frame including a plurality of substantially horizontal vertically aligned arms, a plurality of substantiallyvertical stop members mounted on the arms in a common plane onthe side of the arms disposed toward the-sup port member when the frame is in guiding position, and a plurality of substantially vertically positioned horizontally spaced stack aligning guides mounted on the arms,

and having edges extended toward the support member beyond the plane of the'stop members when the frame is in guiding position; and on the framereleasably engagable-with the platform to retain the platform in guiding position.

4. An assembly guide for use in stacking boxes in spaced relation toeach other comprising a substantially; horizontal support'member'having a side edge; a fence rigidly mounted on the support member in a substantially.

erect position in a plane substantially right angularly related to the side edge of the support member; aframe pivotally mounted on the fence for movement between a guiding position in substantially vertical alignment with the side edge of the support member and a retracted position pivoted outwardly from the support member, the frame including an auxiliary fence portion in a substantially erect position in predetermined spaced relation to the fence and substantially parallel to the fence when the frame is in said guiding position, and a plurality of substantially vertically positioned stack aligning guides disposed in substantially equal horizontally spaced relation intermediate to the fence and the auxiliary fence portion of the frame; and means on the frame releasably engage able with the support member to retain the frame in said guiding position.

5. An assembly guide for boxes comprising a platform having a side edge; a fence rigidly mounted on the platform in a substantially erect position in a plane substantially right angularly related to the side edge of the platform; a frame post pivotally mounted on the fence in a substantially erect position adjacent to the side edge of the frame for movement about a substantially vertical axis; a plurality of frame arms horizontally extended from the frame post in a plane common to the post for unitary adjustable movement between a guiding position substantially vertically aligned with the side edge of the platform and a retracted position pivoted outwardly therefrom; an auxiliary fence mounted in a substantially erect position on the extended ends of the frame arms in substantially parallel relation to the fence when the arms are in guiding position; a plurality of elongated stop members mounted in substantially erect positions and in horizontal spaced relation on the frame arms at the side thereof disposed toward the platform when the frame arms are in guiding position; a plurality of elongated stack aligning guides mounted on the arms in substantially equally horizontally spaced relation between the fence and the auxiliary fence in substantially parallel relation thereto and having edges extended from the arms between the fence and the auxiliary fence, said aligning guides each comprising a plurality of vertically spaced and vertically aligned elongated elements, the vertical spaces between the elongated elements in each of said aligning guides defining car-strip receiving gaps therebetween; and a latch mounted on the auxiliary fence releasably engageable with the platform to lock the auxiliary fence in substantially parallel relation to the fence with the frame arms substantially vertically aligned with the side edge of the platform.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

